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Dhruv Chandra

"Hello, my name is Dhruv Chandra and I was born and brought up in Delhi. My family has been involved in crafting exquisite carpets, rugs and woolen shawls for many decades now. It was my uncle, Mr. Sheel Chandra, who started a private collection of exclusive carpets. They represent the culture of a vast area of styles and designs from all over the world including Turkey, Morocco, Persia, Afghanistan, Baluchistan, the erstwhile Soviet Union, Tibet and China.

"I joined my family in their work after I graduated with a degree in economics. It is a fun experience to be in the family endeavor. Every day is a new experience for me. We have more than 6,000 styles of carpets in our collection, each representing the weaving tradition of a particular tribe or area. For instance, our 'Mughal Jail' collection is quite popular. Besides being a great warrior, Mughal Emperor Akbar was a promoter of arts and culture. It was Akbar who thought about jail reforms and decided to give the prisoners a useful occupation. The designs created by the inmates were quite different from the traditional styles – a fine blend of Mughal motifs with traditional Indian patterns prior to the Mughal invasion of India. We have recreated these superb styles, taking inspiration from original Mughal designs for this collection.

"Along with carpets, we also specialize in soft natural pashmina stoles and shawls as well as throws, bedcovers, and dress materials hand-woven exclusively by master craftsmen. The technique and tradition have been passed down from generation to generation. Along with the family, we collaborate with some 150 artisans.

"Our designs have participated in various exhibitions in and outside India, including Singapore, the UK and Italy. We also supply dress materials to European fashion houses."